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Ed VanGerpen

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To the Editor: On June 15, I spent the day at the Beethoven Wind Farm north of Avon. A Minnesota company was moving the large crane to the fourth turbine that needs major repairs. Each time they move from turbine to turbine the large crane has to be taken apart. One of the workers told me it takes 20 semi-trailers to haul the crane and support equipment.

To the Editor: We all enjoy the luxury of electricity 24/7, 365 days a year. How is electricity produced in the U.S.? The following numbers are from 2013: Dependable Power: coal power plants, 39.3 percent; natural gas, 27.6 percent; nuclear 19.5 percent; hydro (dams) 6.7 percent; petroleum .07 percent. Non-dependable power ( need a subsidy from taxpayers to build): wind 4.2 percent; solar and other, 2.1 percent. The average output of wind turbines in the U.S. is 34 percent of the time. Solar is less than 30 percent.